--- title: "MINARC — Architects & Building Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/minarc-pfvwus-pf~1040317280 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1040317280.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: MINARC category: ["Architects"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/f04385650ec54877_8734-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "2324 michigan ave, Santa Monica, California 90404, United States" latitude: 34.0268 longitude: -118.4733 phone: "(310) 998-8899" website: http://www.minarc.com rating: 5 review_count: 10 best_of_houzz_awards: 1 followers: 173 last_updated: 2026-09-19 --- # MINARC Original Houzz profile: [MINARC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/minarc-pfvwus-pf~1040317280) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Architects - **Location:** Santa Monica, CA - **Serves:** Los Angeles, Bel Air, Brentwood Los Angeles, Hollywood, Venice, Van Nuys, Inglewood, Burbank, Universal City, Santa Monica, Hawthorne, North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Encino, Gardena, Sherman Oaks, Culver City, Studio City, Tarzana, Westmont, West Hollywood, Manhattan Beach, Beverly Hills, Lawndale, Calabasas, Pacific Palisades, El Segundo, View Park-Windsor Hills, Del Aire, West Athens, Marina del Rey, Topanga, Playa Vista, Hidden Hills, Playa del Rey, Toluca Lake, Valley Village - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (10 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2021), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Recommended on Houzz - 25,000 Ideabook Saves - Best of Houzz winner - Eco-friendly - 21 years in business Minarc is an award winning design studio recognized internationally for its unique approach, one which embraces contemporary design, and employs innovative materials and technologies, while adhering to sustainable practices and design standards. Located in Santa Monica, CA, Minarc was established by Erla Dögg and Tryggvi in 1999. The work of their practice ranges from small-scale renovations to new construction, in residential, commercial and public settings. Each project shares an emphasis on the blurring of distinction between interior and exterior spaces through the exploitation of natural light, creation of outdoor living rooms, and artistically framed views of nature. ### Services Provided - Architectural Design - Building Design - Home Remodeling - Architectural Drawings - Custom Homes - House Plans - New Home Construction - Home Additions - Home Extensions - Kitchen Design - Sustainable Design - Kitchen Remodeling - Energy-Efficient Homes - Floor Plans - 3D Rendering - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) - Green Building - Bathroom Design - Space Planning - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Multigenerational Homes - Pool House Design & Construction - Home Restoration - Drafting - Historic Building Conservation - Project Management - Handicap-Accessible Design - Outdoor Kitchen Design - Barn Design & Construction - Structural Engineering - Basement Remodeling - Mudroom Design - Basement Design - Attic Conversion - Tiny House Construction - Staircase Design - Deck Design - Garage Design - Site Preparation - Landscape Plans - Laundry Room Design - Modular Home Additions - Passive Solar Heating & Cooling - Home Gym Design & Construction - Prefab Houses - Rooftop Deck Installation - Earthquake Retrofitting - Log Home Construction - Dock Design & Construction - Land Surveying ### Areas Served - Los Angeles - Bel Air - Brentwood Los Angeles - Hollywood - Venice - Van Nuys - Inglewood - Burbank - Universal City - Santa Monica - Hawthorne - North Hollywood - Woodland Hills - Encino - Gardena - Sherman Oaks - Culver City - Studio City - Tarzana - Westmont - West Hollywood - Manhattan Beach - Beverly Hills - Lawndale - Calabasas - Pacific Palisades - El Segundo - View Park-Windsor Hills - Del Aire - West Athens - Marina del Rey - Topanga - Playa Vista - Hidden Hills - Playa del Rey - Toluca Lake - Valley Village ### Typical Job Cost $500,000 - 5 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | MINARC | | Address | 2324 michigan ave, Santa Monica, California 90404, United States | | Phone | (310) 998-8899 | | Website | http://www.minarc.com | | License Number | c40433 | | Followers on Houzz | 173 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/MINARC-30110852446/ - Blog — https://www.minarcGroup.com ## Offers Open during COVID-19 Available Virtually _Contact For A Complimentary Consultation_ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [MINARC](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/minarc-pfvwus-pf~1040317280) - **Website:** http://www.minarc.com - **Phone:** (310) 998-8899 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - Erla and Tryggvi are recipients of the industry’s most prestigious awards and accolades including AIA Residential Architect Awards, the Calibre Award, IDA International Design Award and several International Interior Design Association (IIDA) awards. - **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2021), for Service. **Affiliations** - [The American Institute of Architects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/the-american-institute-of-architects-pfvwus-pf~1350720471) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 10 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 47.0 - Value: 50.0 ### All 10 reviews **★★★★★ — Hildur Hörn Daðadóttir, April 2024** > Minarc Architecture has a unique ability to think outside the box and create structures that are both functional and beautiful. Their designs are always fresh and exciting and they have a way of incorporating natural elements into their work that truly sets them apart. **★★★★★ — Arnarsson, April 2024** > Very creative and easy to work with. Solution oriented finding practical solutions for anything that needed to be solved. **★★★★★ — Haghús ehf., April 2024** > Great service and beautiful design. My family loves the house and everything about it. > My best recommendation to the Minarc team. **★★★★★ — HU-357672225, Feb. 2021** > The Minarc team was great to work with on the remodel and addition of our house in Pacfific Palisades, LA. They helped create a space that would accommodate my family and I with the center focus being our kitchen/living area, with separate spaces for each family member that all revolve around the core of the house. Highly recommend! **★★★★★ — HU-587717356, Feb. 2021** > MINARC strikes the perfect balance of creativity, functionality, sustainability and personality in all their designs. We have worked with them on multiple projects and wouldn’t hesitate to again! **★★★★★ — michel and vanessa bocande, Nov. 2020** > Intelligent functional stunning design > > Minarc is a phenomenal team of architects. They are masters at smart, functional and unpretentious modern design. Their houses are a beautiful display of clean lines, rich materials and spacial artistry. We’ve never seen better indoor-outdoor layouts than those designed by Minarc. > > We love that our house is both one-of-a-kind and timeless. Many of our neighbors still say how stunning our house is, 5 years later. **★★★★★ — Jay Blumenfield, Oct. 2020** > Not sure how we would have survived pandemic without the house Minarc built Talk about appreciation. They are amazing and the house is breathtaking. **★★★★★ — Helen Garber, Sept. 2020** > I have worked on various projects with Minarc and have found them to be brilliant and professional. The installation was well received and reviewed. **★★★★★ — Nanea Reeves, Sept. 2020** > Minarc and Erla Construction did a beautiful job rebuilding my house after losing my husband to cancer and my house to a fire. Not only are they incredibly talented, they went above and beyond to support me throughout the entire process. My house is a masterpiece and I will always be grateful to them for giving me a gorgeous foundation to rebuild my life upon. **★★★★★ — Enzo Der Boghossian, Sept. 2020** > The team at Minarc is great. They designed and helped us build a new home from the ground up using their proprietary mnmMOD building system. Founders Erla and Tryggvi were deeply involved in every step of the process, from initial design, to permitting, to all the build details through final completion. They listened to us, understood what we wanted in a house, then went on to deliver beyond our expectations. Both are highly creative, energetic and a pleasure work with. For our home, they created spaces for truly comfortable living while still maintaining a clean, modern and minimal aesthetic. As an added bonus, our home has been featured in print publications and broadcast programs, was recognized with numerous awards and was included in a Dwell magazine home tour. They continue to be an incredible resource for every aspect of design, building and architecture. Highly recommended! ## Selected projects - [Sherbourne Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/sherbourne-residence-pj-vj~2551900) - Location: Culver City, CA - Photos: 13 - Description: The design focuses on sustainability, color and space. Design elements are oriented to take advantage of natural light and cross-ventilation. The polished concrete floor flows inside-out and connects in an obstructive manner to increase the fluidity and space while blurring the lines between the interior and exterior courtyards. Utilizing the cutting edge fabrication methods of the sustainable building panels that yield "net-zero" efficiency. Suspended staircase of pleated raw steel ascends to t… - [Azzurra Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/azzurra-residence-pj-vj~3120356) - Location: Marina del Rey, CA - Photos: 8 - Description: This apartment utilizes simplistic eco-conscious design, focused on functionality and a conscious effort in using materials in their most organic form. The design and use of color is inspired by the dramatic Icelandic landscape to create contrasting stimulating interiors. The yellow grass back splash contrasts the blue sky seen through the expansive windows. The ocean-facing doors allow fresh air to circulate while maximizing natural light in the living space. The eat-in kitchen island creates a… - [The Longford Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/the-longford-residence-pj-vj~6122467) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 9 - Description: Inspired by the beautifully dramatic landscapes found in nature, the simple, eco-conscious design demands placing a continuous force on creating comprehensively healthy environments, functionality and materials in their most organic form throughout the entire condo. A profusion of natural light streams through expansive windows, increasing the home's overall fluidity. The yellow accent pieces contrast the blue daybed, meanwhile, the hidden refrigerator is integrated into the walnut cabinets, tra… - [Drexel Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/drexel-residence-pj-vj~2885086) - Location: Beverly Hills, CA - Photos: 21 - Description: Tucked away in the quiet little neighborhood of Beverly Grove (so named for its fitting location between the Beverly Center and the Grove) is a home by Minarc. Beyond the clean façade of maple, walnut and concrete lies 3,000 sq ft of boundary dissolving living space that can only be described as transcendental. Utilizing the cutting-edge fabrication methods of the mnmMOD panels, this home may as well be dubbed an homage to the minimalist aesthetic and Southern California vibe of the Light and Sp… - [Mildred Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/mildred-residence-pj-vj~6122474) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 17 - Description: The layout of the Mildred residence is multifaceted and places simultaneous focus on clean simplicity, thoughtful sustainability, and aesthetically pleasing functionality. Inspired by the beautifully dramatic landscapes found in nature, the design for this home creates subtly contrasting interior spaces to stimulate the senses. The glacier-like kitchen island plays an important role within the open living area, its angular white mass rising in stark contrast to the polished concrete floor flowin… - [Dawnsknoll Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/dawnsknoll-residence-pj-vj~3120387) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - Description: On the Dawnsknoll project, Minarc focuses on a couple of main concepts: sustainability, color, and space. Our green practices and selection of sustainable products do not raise the cost of a house. We believe that building repurposed with recycled and reclaimed material should not be more expensive for our clients. Throughout this house, we recycled, repurposed, and reused to its extent. One of the main recycled features is the recycled rubber material used for the bathroom sinks. The use of rec… - [Big Little Rock](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/big-little-rock-pj-vj~6124001) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: Big Little Rock is a modest house made to blend into the beautiful Icelandic nature - designed for an easy lifestyle. Vacation home or all year round. Its simple eco-conscious design focuses on functionality and creates a healthy living environment for the family. The home integrates with the landscape and blends with the environment's "body." A conscious effort was made to use materials in their most organic form. It embraces history with forms found in traditional mud houses and the sod rood a… - [Appleton Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/appleton-residence-pj-vj~22878) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 12 - Description: The Appleton Residence is oriented so that all of the rooms can enjoy the outdoor living area which includes pool, outdoor dining, barbecue and play court. Its orientation is thought out to maximize passive solar design and natural ventilations, with solar chimney escaping hot air during summer and heating cold air during winter eliminated the need for mechanical air handling. Simple eco-conscious design that is focused on functionality and creating a healthy breathing family environment. The de… - [nIce Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nice-residence-pj-vj~6123959) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 7 - Description: To create a serene family sanctuary that harmoniously connects inhabitants with the surrounding natural environment by combining the most sustainable, eco -friendly materials and energy efficient technologies with minimalist architectural design. The house is located in the beautiful a rural town of Iceland, a low-developed region committed to the preservation of its beautiful natural scenery and resources. The design intent embodies Iceland’s respect for the environment, while many countries pr… - [Greenfield Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/greenfield-residence-pj-vj~6123998) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 7 - Description: A simplistic eco-conscious design that is focused on functionality and creating a breathing family environment. The house is oriented on the site to better take advantage of natural light and winds while maximum use of natural light to cut down electrical costs. Conscious effort in using only materials in their most organic form with no use of chemicals, carpets, tiles or paint. A heated patio for outdoor dining maximizing outdoor/indoor living, with floor material connected in an unobtrusive ma… - [ION Adventure Hotel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ion-adventure-hotel-pj-vj~427783) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 16 - Description: In a land of myth and legend, on an island where fire meets ice, surrounded by hot springs, glaciers, and the mystical glow of the Northern Lights, comes a new hotel where nothing comes between you and this otherworldly landscape. Ion, Iceland’s newest luxury hotel designed by Minarc. Nestled into the slopes of Mt. Hengill, near Thingvellir national park, the Ion sits perched atop a series of high-seat pillars, an homage to Iceland’s first settler, Ingolfur Arnarson, who en-route to Iceland in t… - [Rainbow Residence](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rainbow-residence-pj-vj~6123941) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: This is the ultimate recycling and repurposing of a 5-unit apartment building into a single-family residence where the available resources have been used conscientiously with a view toward minimizing demolition and maximizing sustainability. A "no-paint, no-carpet, no-tiles, no-a/c" philosophy keeps unnecessary chemicals away from the dwelling spaces we design. Recycled concrete panels, recycled rubber, rubber sinks, recycled cork, recycled paperboard, and reclaimed woods lend a new purpose and… - [Rock Living](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rock-living-pj-vj~6122486) - Location: Los Angeles, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: The front door of this residence signals that behind the old facade, something new awaits. - [Leone Living](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/leone-living-pj-vj~47409) - Location: Santa Monica, CA - Photos: 5 - Description: A 3-bedroom/3-bath house in Santa Monica, California. Simplistic eco-conscious design that is focused on functionality and creating a breathing family environment. The house is oriented on the site for optimum advantage of natural light and cross ventilation with maximum use of natural light to cut down electrical costs. A conscious effort in using only materials in their most organic form and no use of chemicals, carpets, tiles or paint. The floor material connected in an unobtrusive manner to… - [Living by the Sea](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/living-by-the-sea-pj-vj~6123988) - Location: Malibu, CA - Photos: 9 - [ION City Hotel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/ion-city-hotel-pj-vj~2885046) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 14 - Description: Conveniently located in the heart of Reykjavík is the newest addition to the ION family of luxury hotels—ION City Hotel. This idyllic sanctuary, juxtaposes the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders and the City Center district where many of the coolest shops and hip bars call home. ION City Hotel offers a tranquil refuge within walking distance of most if not all Reykjavík’s bustling cultural quarter has to offer—novel restaurants, fashionable shops, first-rate art gallerie… - [Plús Hús](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/plus-hus-pj-vj~6541401) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 24 - Description: Developed by Minarc founders, Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson, Plús Hús is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) design service that offers simple, efficient, multi-purposed structure designed to let anyone add an affordable, environmentally responsible space to their property. - [Polestar by Minarc](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/polestar-by-minarc-pj-vj~6204923) - Location: Santa Monica, CA - Photos: 3 - Description: An icicle inspired light illuminates the space. - [Nest by Minarc](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/nest-by-minarc-pj-vj~6204907) - Location: Santa Monica, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: The Nest by Minarc is a light created out of steel made to look like a Birds Nest. The interwoven fixture, perched above, welcomes you with the universal symbol of home. Diffused light radiates through the freely intertwined faux reeds. The delicate weaving motion is juxtaposed with rock solid steel, set in place to protect those dwelling within. - [RUBBiSH by Minarc](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rubbish-by-minarc-pj-vj~6204920) - Location: Santa Monica, CA - Photos: 4 - Description: A bathroom sink made from recycled tires. RUBBiSH is created by melting down old rubber tires that would have ended up in a landfill and cleansing them of any remaining particulates. The material is then formed into a sheet which is stretched over the desired base frame (metal, etc.) and anchored down by the drain collar. [See all 34 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/architects-and-building-designers/minarc-pfvwus-pf~1040317280) ## Ideabooks - [minarc ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/917024/list/minarc-ideas) — 3 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/minarc) ## Community Q&A **Q: Love the hanging chair!** *(in Photo Questions)* Can you share details on this. Thank you! A: Hi Chelsea! Of course. This is our Dropi chair and custom made to order. Please contact info@minarc.com and we would be happy to assist you. Here is a link to view more: Dropi by Minarc **Q: What type of wood is used for the headboard?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: recycled scrap wood **Q: What are the materials used for the railings?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: steel cable --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-19.*